If all this could please get seated, we will begin momentarily.

If all thers could please be seated.

Okay, I say this every time, but alders could please take their seats.

We will begin momentarily.

Well, good evening, everyone.

The hour of six o'clock having arrived on this third of February 2026.

It is my honor to call to order the City of Racine Common Council.

The first order of business, as always, is the Pledge of Allegiance.

If you could please stand as you are able and join me in the pledge.

One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Okay, the next item before us is the approval of the Journal of Council Proceedings for January twentieth.

Opposed that motion carries.

Just as a point of information, if you come in on the first floor of City Hall, you'll also see some local African American figures that are featured outside the clerk's office.

And if you look to some of the screens we have in City Hall and social media pages, look for local uh residents who are from Racine and part of that August history to be honored.

Moving on now to public comments, I will ask the clerk to please read the uh proceedings before we begin.

There is no one signed up for public comment this evening.

Okay.

Then we will move on to communications introduced to council.

Uh I will ask uh Alder Land if she would like to make a motion regarding the referrals to her committee.

I'd like to refer the following items to finance and personnel committee.

Item 0068-26 communication sponsored by the mayor requesting accept a 2026 beak control grant.

Item 0084-26.

Communication requests in the approval of benefits broker and consulting services and the permission to enter into an employee health insurance coverage broker services agreement and manage pharmacy service agreement.

Item 0093-26 communication submitting the claim of we energies for disallowance.

I'd like a second motion.

There's a motion and a second to refer these items to finance the personnel.

All those in favor, please say aye.

Opposed that motion carries.

I erred in moving ahead to finance the personnel, which is usually first for referrals.

We do have a referral to the committee of the whole by uh for Alder Horton to read.

Uh Alder Horton, would you like to read that item?

Item 0091-26 communication sponsored by Alder Allen, Alder Jurgison, and Audible Bone requesting DPW to present and discuss policy and strategies surrounding snow removal procedures.

Alder Mack, did you want to make a motion?

Alder Wynner, would you like to make a motion?

Thank you.

I would move to receive and file this item.

Sir and file this item made by Alder Weiner, seconded by Alder Mack.

Alder Weiner, would you like to speak to your motion?

I would thank you.

Uh, this item was just uh before the council two weeks ago.

Uh this item had been received and filed by the public works and services committee, and the council unanimously approved that receive and file if I remember correctly.

So it it behooves me why this item is even on the agenda at this time.

It was my understanding that once a few of the aldermans that had concern about the the procedures for plowing and snow snow and ice removal would be meeting with public works, and then at that time I believe that this item would come back to public works and services where it belongs.

It does not belong before the committee of the whole back.

Thank you.

Oh, comments made by Old Weiner.

In a robust discussion at the public works committee, over an hour, I believe.

Um, all the aldermen were invited to attend that.

It was televised.

Alderman Jorgensen was there.

Um, and he had a lot of good points to raise.

Um, and as I mentioned, I I believe it was a robust discussion.

I don't know if there's any value, anything new to be brought forward by rehashing this until as Alderman Weidner um stated that we're able to sit down with public works.

I did talk with the public works committee.

I I'm sorry, the public works um assistant director today, and asked him to set up a meeting with Alderman Jorgensen and myself, ASAP, and I was assured that that would happen.

Alder Allen.

Okay, thank you.

All right, so I I think that we may just be looking at this as this is conversation, and the point of having this brought out is not for conversation, it is to address the fact that we have a city of residents who pay taxes who are not satisfied with the service that they're they're receiving.

And the process is left largely up to people and the DPW to decide how this is going to uh go forward.

Uh I have not just in my district but throughout the city, it is a common complaint.

We we are raising the taxes of people who live in the city, and they feel that they are not being served.

So it isn't just a conversation about how things get done.

We can look and see how things get done.

It is about looking at the process and finding out where we can strategize to make this process better.

And it isn't just about the snow removal, it is about the communication that leads up to that and and during that process.

So, no, it it needs to be something that the common council talks or the committee of the whole talks aboutlining what we would like to see from DPW, then DPW can come with their presentation about, and somewhere in the middle, we need to meet and redefine how we are approaching snow removal in our city because it is not good.

And every year we have the same problem.

It is not good enough just to say, oh, we we uh address the main thoroughfares first and then the auxiliary streets, because I know for a fact that that is left up to subductive decisions based on DPW, and my last experience with our snow removal based on what someone can do versus the people who pay taxes in an area that are looking for services is not satisfactory.

Alder Jorgensen.

Thank you.

So, yeah, I uh I don't remember necessarily asking to to be on this one, but look, I'll I'll talk about plowing the streets whenever wherever I think it's uh uh uh a very important topic to to talk about, and so I I have talked with Alder Mack, where we're moving forward on us trying to get some side conversations going with DPW to keep on track that we talked about before.

Um but on the other side of that coin, we've sent a lot of things to the committee of the whole.

This would go the next one that's scheduled, so it I don't even know when that would be.

Um I think it is good to regularly check in.

I don't know if we'd have to do a full presentation again like we did in the um the uh the very thorough discussion that we had in public works, but if if we want to keep on it, because I I do agree with Alder Allen of we can't just let this fall by the wayside, we have to make sure that we're we're watching it and monitoring it.

Um this is far and away than the number one call I get from residents, and so I I want to make sure that I'm on top of their concerns.

Um, and so yeah, I I for anyone who's following along at home.

Um, I'm still working on it.

Uh Alder Mack and I are both on top of it.

Um, but on the other side, I I have no problem talking about this anytime anywhere.

Okay, uh Alder Pabone.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Um, just echoing Alder Allen's sentiments, uh it was it it is a lot.

Um, and I'm not saying that DPW doesn't do a good job, but I think if we just all have a better understanding, even my a conversation with Commissioner Rooney um over the past week or so, and I don't think there's any harm in um getting this to where we can do this, but not necessarily on on a council night, but to have the committee of the whole to have a more robust as a group because um Alder Mack and Alder Jorgensen having uh you know those side conversations are great, fantastic, productive, but we're gonna need the whole of the council to get anything done.

So if we stay informed, then we can big make better informed decisions.

And yes, there was a meeting held, but a lot of us have regular jobs and other things outside of work.

We can go back and watch it when we have time, absolutely.

But I think if we're here, we can formulate our questions, get those answered, asked, and then we have a game plan going forward.

Instead of being able to tell our constituents I don't know yet, but I will soon.

So I'm in not in support of receiving and filing this.

Thank you.

Okay, the motion before us is um to receive and file.

Given the discussion we've seen so far, I'm gonna go to a roll call vote on this item.

Uh we are doing um audible roll call votes, the electronic voting um was uh left open in case Alder Pete was going to participate remotely.

So uh when the clerk calls your name on this item, please vote as you wish.

Just know that um to receive the motion before us is to receive item 0091-26.

When the clerk calls your name, please vote as you wish.

Alder Harman.

Alder Pabone, Alder Frazier, Alder Townsend, Alder Davis, Alder Mack, Alder Jorgensen, Alderman Weidner, Alder Horton, Alder Escada, Alder Allen, Alder Land, Alder Perez, Alder Kelly.

Aye.

That is nine ayes, five no's.

The motion to receive and file this item has passed.

We then move on to referrals to public works and services.

Alder Mack, would you like to make a motion regarding the items in your committee?

Thank you.

I'll make a motion to refer the following items to public works and services.

0070-26.

Communications submitting a professional services agreement with Southern Wisconsin appraisal for 2026 appraisal and real estate services for Mount Pleasant Street STP project.

Weldon Layer, Charles, Geneva, North South, Jorgensen PASER 3, as submitted by the Commissioner Public Works.

Item 0082-26 communication amending chapter 94 Article 3 Division 2 parking regulations.

More specifically, Section 94-141, no parking zones, schedule F.

Item 0081-26 communication submitting change order number one to contract 2025010, accessible streets and alleys, Milwaukee General Construction Contractors.

Staff recommendation the change order be approved in the amount of 123,239 dollars and 94 cents.

Item 0087-26 communications submitting change order number one to contract 2025 745 Bryan Center Parking Lot Edition Wanna Sux Uh Corporation Contractors.

Item 0092-26 communication submitting final payment for contract 2025 010 accessible streets and alleys, Milwaukee General Construction Contractors.

That motion carries.

Communication requesting the approval of an agreement allowing Officer David Arvi to take ownership and control of a retired K9 Karma from the Racine Police Department.

Oh, I guess it's not confusing.

But there is an action here that says it's to be approved.

Next item would be 008826.

Communications submitting a new application for a cigarette tobacco and electronic vape device retail license for Douglas Depot LLC DBA located at 1615 Douglas Avenue, Khalid Assad Agent, Fourth District, Item 0089-26.

Communication for the licensed premise report.

Communication requesting any consideration, any formal expression of concern or other actions pursuant to the police report.

Second.

Did you have an item you wanted to clarify?

In this space.

Okay.

All those in favor of these referrals, please say aye.

Opposed.

That motion carries.

We then move on to committee reports.

Alder Land.

Did you have any items for separate consideration?

Yes, Your Honor.

I have two items.

Please state the first one.

The first one is item 0059-26.

Communication sponsored by Mayor Mason on behalf of the city administrators submitting the Recene Police Association 2025 to 2028 collective bargaining agreement for consideration.

The recommendation of finance and personnel is that the agreement be approved.

Fiscal note, the cumulative cost of the contractual increases over the four-year period amount to approximately 2,400,000 in wages and benefits over the life of the contract.

Move to approve.

Multiple seconds.

Absolutely.

Would you like to speak to the motion?

Yes, please.

I think that can be accommodated from the clerk's office once it's executed.

We'll make sure that happens.

Thank you.

Um Alder Whitener.

Thank you.

I just have a question on this in regards to the settlement that includes uh increases for the members' employee health insurance premium contributions from 7.5 to 10 percent for 2027 and then to 12 and a half percent for 2028.

I just wonder if this is in line with what other city employees are also paying for their insurance premium.

To whom are you referring your question, Alder White?

Uh I guess my question may be for the finance director.

Okay, I'll ask Director Fisher to approach the Diaz.

Thank you for the question, Alderman.

In terms of 2027 and 2028 for the non-represented employees, obviously we're not there yet, so that would be proposed within any mayoral budget that would come forward.

But this is what was negotiated with the fire union as well.

Okay.

Follow can you tell us what the current premium contribution is?

Current current premium contribution is seven and a half percent for everybody at this point.

Okay, thank you.

Alder Jorgensen.

Thank you.

Uh sitting on the finance and personnel committee, this uh this case coming before us as well as the previous one for fire.

Um, I just wanted to uh to take a second and thank everyone who was involved in getting both of these before us for approval.

Um, you know, we'd heard it time and time again of where the police and fire contracts here.

They are what we're they're ready for ready for us to uh uh approve um as uh Alder Land had shared.

Um the unions are in support of this.

I think this was from the feedback I've heard um, at least from the the um fire union, they thought the negotiations went extremely well, and that's a testament to um the attorney's office uh as well as administrator Sullivan on holding the some really really good um discussions on it.

So I very excited to uh be able to approve this in addition to the one we previously had done.

Alder Pavone.

Thank you.

I just want to echo some of Alder Dorgenson's sentiments with I know this is a long time coming, it's been a hot button issue for a while.

So I just want to um advise that we remember that spirit of camaraderie and um bargaining when we get to the next one, so we don't have another lapse like this, but this is a really good thing to move forward um and to get this done.

So everyone that worked on it's been fantastic, been great.

Thank you.

Alder Perez.

Thank you, Honor.

Since this communication is sponsored by you.

How long and if it passes here tonight, do you plan on signing it?

Students in front of me, I'll happily sign it.

Is there a timeline?

I'll refer that to the attorney's office.

Uh the once the contract is approved, it gets sent to the collective bargaining unit, so the Racine Police Association will look at it and make sure the final form of the contract appears what everybody anticipates it will.

I will tell you what we did with the fire union when the council approved it a few weeks ago.

Is I think within a day or two, the fire union had it in their hands to review, and I anticipate it'll be something very similar.

And uh I anticipate no problems.

It was a good uh cordial professional negotiation, and I don't think we'll have any issues.

Okay, thank you.

Alder Horton.

All right, thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

First of all, I'd like to thank everybody that worked on the contract, you know, the attorneys, uh, RPA, uh, and especially for the officers.

Uh for those that stayed.

I know it was a time that uh this contract had been uh pretty much held up and people were waiting around, people were leaving, but for those that stayed, I just want to say thank you for staying, and hopefully we can get this done.

Any further discussion?

Okay, seeing none, the item before you is item 0059-26 communication from Mayor Mason on behalf of the city administrators submitting the receiving police association 2025 to 2028 collective bargaining agreement for consideration.

When the clerk calls your name, please vote as you wish.

Alder Harman, yes.

Oh, sorry.

Alder Harmon, yes, Alder Pavone, Alder Fraser, Alder Townsend, Alder Davis, Alder Mack, Alder Jorgensen, Alderman Weidner, Alder Horton, Alder Skata, Alder Allen, Alder Land, Alder Perez, Alder Kelly, 14 ayes, zero nos.

Unanimous.

Um, I too want to offer congratulations to the city's bargaining team led by the city administrator, but also the city attorney and uh assistant sister attorney, uh Marissa did a great job by all accounts, Director Fisher, uh, and Director uh Lenica Horton from HR.

Uh, but also want to congratulate the RPA and their bargaining team.

This only works when both sides come to the table.

So I want to congratulate our collective bargaining unit in a successful contract as well.

Alder Land, did you have another item for separate consideration?

Um please proceed with that item.

Item 0060-26 communications sponsored by Mayor Mason on behalf of the director of the water utility requesting permission to accept 150,000 dollars from the state of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for a lead service lateral replacement outreach grant.

The recommendation was that the water utility be granted permission to accept 150,000 dollars from the state of Wisconsin for this grant.

This grant covers the period from November 1st of the 2025 to 1031 27.

Move to approve.

There's a motion to approve and multiple seconds discussed.

Do you want to speak to your motion?

Alder Land.

I believe Alder Jorgensen wanted to speak to this.

Yeah, thank you.

As the uh the president of the water commission, uh, I just wanted to take a moment and thank the um the staff that worked very very hard on this.

Um this was uh uh a huge win for us.

Um this is a a very large number that's gonna go to it because to be very candid in the next few years there's going to be a lot of construction.

Uh Alder Mack and the um public uh works committee are going to be very very busy with that, and so this will aid in letting people know what we're doing, why we're doing it, um, and try to get the word out there that there's gonna be a lot of construction, but at the end uh we will have removed all of the lead service lines in the city, and that's the goal.

And I think it's uh it's just fantastic, but mainly I just wanted to thank the staff that worked so hard on this so that we can get the word out and let people know what's going on.

Alder Weiter.

Thank you.

I just have a question, I believe, for the finance director.

State your question.

My question is during the budget we had budgeted for a new position in I believe the water wastewater to do community outreach for the lead pipes, I believe.

Um I do wonder if you're confusing it with the sump pump program.

Maybe I am.

Yeah, I could be.

Yeah, there was definitely a position added for the sub pump program.

You're absolutely right.

Um there was a position in the water utility.

I apologize, I can't remember the name of it, but it was not for specifically for lead.

So do we already have a position in the water utility for the lead pipe for outreach and they're using it uh internal staff, mostly their engineering staff.

So the 150,000 grant would go specifically to the lead pipes themselves and not for staff.

This would actually go to more like outreach.

So this is more like for materials for outreach to the citizenry, not for a person per se.

150,000 for outreach for the period in uh late 2025 through 2027, all the way through 2027.

Thank you.

Other discussion on this item.

Seeing none, when the clerk calls your name, please vote on this item as you wish.

Alder Townsend.

Alder Davis.

Alder Mack.

Alder Jorgensen.

Alderman Weidner.

Alder Horton.

Alder Escada.

Alder Allen.

Alder Land.

Alder Perez.

Alder Kelly.

14 ayes, zero no's.

And item passes unanimously.

Alder Land, did you have any other items for separate consideration?

No, your honor.

Then without objection, we will place these items on the consent agenda and move on to the public works and services committee report.

Alder Mack, did you have any items for separate consideration?

Yes, sir.

Items 1306-25 communication on behalf of the Department of Public Works submitting professional agreement between the City of Racine and Case Singh and Associates for the demolition of McMinn parking structure located at 127th Street Racine, Wisconsin.

The committee recommendation was to deny.

Just so I'm clear, Alder Mac, you're making a motion to approve the committee recommendation to deny the contract.

Correct.

Okay, please please.

I think that's I I think that's the appropriate motion to make, but I would like to speak on that.

Please speak to your motion.

I will be voting against the committee recommendation tonight.

Um the vote was three no's and one abstention.

There was not a lot of discussion during the meeting at the time.

The item before us is not about whether or not we're going to tear down the McMinn ramp.

That discussion was had during our budget meetings.

We were told at the time that the ramp has reached its lifespan, and that concrete is falling down on cars, and the city is not liable for that, so we have the potential of having upset constituents who happen to have cars damaged by that.

Instead, this item is whether or not we are going to contract for engineering services, which is something that we do for construction projects and demolish demolition projects.

Once that is received, we will put that out for bid, and then um experts in the field of demolition will bid on it, and that will come back to public works and to this committee.

So I'm hoping that if there is discussion tonight, the discussion is centered on the agenda item, which is whether or not we will enter into a professional services agreement.

While I do not agree with the committee's recommendation, um it was the committee's prerogative.

There is a time element to this.

So if there's any questions, I'd be happy to answer them.

I know staff is here also.

So I just want to clarify what uh what Alder Mac's intention is with his motion and your discussion of what subsequent motion that might come after this is very helpful.

Um so we're we're sort of doing a double negative that that it hopefully leads to a positive outcome in terms of moving this forward.

Um and I'll just ask the uh the city attorney is parliamentarian to confirm this.

As the chair, Aldermack is bound to bring forward the committee's recommendation, which he has done through the form of a motion, uh, which he is somewhat uh his explanation certainly makes for it, but he's saying he's gonna vote against his own motion in that space in hopes that you all join it.

If that succeed, that doesn't mean it then moves forward, he will then need to make another motion to approve the contract as presented.

So that's a bit confusing procedurally.

I just wanted to make sure we all understood uh what the motion before us would do, and and if it is if it goes the way uh Alder Mac intends that there would be a subsequent motion that would be required for us to move forward tonight.

Um I'll ask um Alder Harman to speak next.

Thank you, Chair.

I'm just getting surprised all night.

Um I agree with Alder Mac.

Um I I sat on the committee, I was the vote of um abstention.

I needed some more um questions answered.

I got my questions answered, they weren't able to be answered on on that night, so I couldn't vote for it at the time.

But um after being able to talk to the various administrators and directors with regards to the plan associated with this, I am in agreement that um I would like to vote no on the denial, the original um piece of it so that we can ultimately vote towards this moving forward because there is a tight deadline, and um it does seem to benefit all of um the stakeholders who are involved.

So I support it as well.

Alder Weiner Thank you.

I have a question probably for the assistant commissioner of public works in regards to the timeline.

I know from the comments from the chair of the public works committee that this project needs to be completed before the 4th of July, but we are already in February, and I'm kind of concerned.

I know how fast time goes, and I also know how long these projects can take, you know, based on what happened at the YMCA.

So I'm wondering if you get the idea on the timeline.

Uh certainly thank you for the question, Alder Widener.

Yes, I think if if if we can get this uh if we can get this done tonight, I believe in terms of advertising or doing the design.

The design won't take long.

Part of the longest part of it is probably the asbestos uh the evaluation.

But uh from a timing standpoint, I would think that we could probably get this thing done uh when you consider the design, the bidding advertising and uh completion of the project.

So just as a follow-up, say for example, all this the um the design and all that is completed in a time close to the fourth of July.

Would you be holding off on moving ahead uh for this project until after July?

Well, if for some reason we run into any to something that we would think would delay the project, and we may have to do an addendum or some sort of a change in order to uh to extend the uh the um the contract now what that extension is.

I'm not sure, probably after uh after party on the pavement, something like that.

Okay, thank you.

I I do have confidence that with uh Chairman Mack on public works and his long-standing committee with the Fourth of July parade activities that we'll we'll keep on schedule as best we can.

Uh Alder Kelly I just had a budget question.

Um not sure who to direct this to, maybe the administrator or take a question and either be the administrator and find it.

We did vote on this item as part of the budget, correct?

Correct.

Okay.

That's basically it.

That's all I wanted to know.

Okay.

Alder Jorgens.

Thank you.

Um, so I had a lot of questions on this.

Um they've been answered.

The biggest one that I had was you know, during the budget, we were told it was gonna be a surface lot, but we'd find out more as we kind of move through the process.

Um, so this was kind of that first step of the process of of taking it down.

Although my big concern was, you know, what is the surface lot going to function as after it's done, and I've been assured that it will function the same as the the ramp does today for a kind of public parking, and so that's all I think we would need to know by now.

Um as like uh as Alder Mac had stated, this is the first step that comes later.

Um so I'm in favor of moving forward of looking into how we we take it down safely.

Uh with knowing that I've already been assured that this will still function as a uh the same that it does today, just as a surface lot as opposed to uh a ramp.

Okay, and nobody else in the queue, just a reminder, because this is sort of a double negative process wise.

Um the motion is to deny uh the contract.

Uh Alder Mack and others have indicated that they're voting against that motion, but a negative vote on the motion to deny does not move the contract forward.

If a if a if this motion fails, another motion would have to come back subsequent that to approve the contract.

So the the motion before you right now is to accept the committee's recommendation to deny this contract.

When the clerk calls your name, please vote as you wish.

Alder Harman.

No.

Alder Pabone?

No.

Alder Frazier?

No.

Alder Townsend?

No.

Alder Davis.

Alder Mack.

No.

Alder Jorgensen.

No.

Alderman Weidner.

Alder Horton.

No.

Alder Escada?

No.

Alder Allen?

Alder Land?

No.

Alder Perez?

No.

Alder Kelly.

There would be 13 no's, one aye.

So that motion fails.

Alder Mack, would you like to make a subsequent motion?

I'd like to make a motion that we adopt or that we enter into a professional agreement between the city of Racine and K Singh and Associates for the demolition of McMinn parking structure located at 127th Street Racine, Wisconsin.

Okay.

As a motion by uh by Chairman Mack, seconded by Alder Pabone.

Any further discussion on this item?

Again, a vote in the affirmative here would move this contract forward.

When the clerk calls your name, please vote as you wish.

Alder Pabone.

Aye.

Alder Frazier.

Alder Townsend.

Alder Davis.

No.

Alder Mack.

Alder Jorgensen.

Alderman Weidner.

Alder Horton.

Aye.

Alder Escada.

Alder Allen.

Alder Land.

Aye.

Alder Prez.

Alder Kelly.

Aye.

Thirteen ayes.

One no.

The motion carries.

Alder Mack, did you have any other items for separate consideration?

I have no other items.

Then without objection, the remainder of the items on this agenda will be placed on the consent agenda.

I'm sorry, the remainder of these report items will be placed on the consent agenda.

And then we will move on to public safety and licensing committee.

Thank you.

I do not have an item from the report before us, but I do have an item that I would like to speak to that is not on the agenda.

And that would be what was item 0061-26.

That was a communication that was referred to the public safety and licensing committee.

Receip from the public regarding licensed establishment.

And because this item is not on the report, evidently, according to one interpretation of the ordinance, this item was just automatically referred to the committee of the whole.

But in that ordinance, which is part three, chapter two, article two, division five, section two point one two eight of the municipal code of the city of Racine.

I am going to um provide a synopsis of the committee report at the meeting of the common council.

So everybody understands that the recommendation of the public safety and licensing committee was to refer this item to the committee of the whole.

Otherwise, we would not have been aware.

And I've never seen this happen before.

So just wanted everyone to be clear, including the public, that this item, the recommendation from our committee was to refer this item to the committee the whole.

Thank you.

Seeing no items for separate consideration without objection, I'll place the entirety of this report on the consent agenda.

Moving on then.

Oh, sorry, Alder Harmon.

I apologize, Mayor.

Um I have my light on for a while.

And I I came in late, but I did want separate consideration for one item.

So before we move forward, I'm hoping that we can just um discuss item 0046-26.

4-5 or 4-6.

4-5.

What page are we on?

Umer, if uh if you don't object, um we have an Alder asking for separate consideration on item 0045-26.

Which would you mean Alder Weiner, would you mind reading that item?

0046?

0045-26 at the bottom of page.

Okay, I would move, yeah.

I would move for separate.

I move to approve item 0045-26.

So motion and a second to approve the item.

Alder Pabone, I believe, seconded that motion.

Um, did you want to speak to the motion?

Well, I I'll read the item first.

Please do.

Um, that item is a communication on behalf of the city clerks to submit a new application for a cigarette tobacco and electronic vape device, retail for Mose Market, LLC DBA located at 1949 Racine Street, Sayed Shah Hedday, agent, second district.

Uh the the uh recommendation of the committee was that this license be approved.

Um would you like to speak to the motion?

Yes, thank you.

Um I understand that the committee um moved to approve it.

I completely understand the processes that are outlined for their approval or denial of an application.

I am only asking that this be deferred um until our next meeting, not that it not be approved at this time.

I believe that there's some additional information that is coming down the pikes that I'll kind of want to understand and look at.

Um, I think that it's gonna be important um related to some of these items, and I'm just hoping that we can defer this and look into some things because we're getting more and more applications with regards to um approval of vape licensing.

I know that some alders have looked into or considered potentially creating some ordinances or some language surrounding some of this.

I'm really interested in seeing how some of that um plays out.

Again, I'm not asking that it um not be approved.

I'm just asking that it be deferred until some additional um information is comes forward.

Thank you.

Is there a second to defer this item?

There's a second to defer this item to a later meeting.

The move to defer fails for lack of a second.

Uh Alder Weidner, would you like to speak to the motion?

The motion was to approve uh I'll speak to this item.

Uh so the gentleman had come before the committee and told us what he planned to do, reopen a uh grocery store on Racine Street.

Um at the time, if I uh recall correctly, and committee members can correct me if I'm not re remembering correctly, but I thought he said he wasn't really interested so much in the vape products, he was gonna have some cigarette and tobacco.

Um that doesn't mean that he couldn't have vape, but that was not what his preference was.

And what I see at 1949 Racine Street is someone that is going to re-establish a convenience store uh that will have some cigarette and tobacco, perhaps vape, uh, but it is important to establish um uh convenience store in that neighborhood because it is somewhat of a food item.

And my room remembering correctly.

So um I would hope that this council would uphold the recommendation of the committee and approve this license.

Alder Pabone.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Um, I have a question for the city attorney.

Could the city attorney please clarify as far as what the public safety and licensing committee?

We are limited, we are restricted when it comes to the denial of these kind of licenses by two conditions if I remember correctly, via state statute.

Could you read those out?

Or do you know them off the top of your head?

I think I'm not prepared to answer that level of detail off the top of my head.

I know it's very difficult to uh deny the approval of uh tobacco license in this case.

Essentially, it's pretty much like a like some type of criminal conviction or uh or an omission of some sort, right?

Very, very, very limited.

It is not none of this coming before you is anything that I want to approve, but I cannot not approve it unless there are those violations.

That is state statute.

We will be in violation of the law.

It doesn't matter what information would be coming down the pipeline or what information to be considered, unless it is one of those for right now.

There's nothing we can do but but to approve.

Um so I want to make that clear.

It's not that we're approving Willy-Nilly because we want all these vape shops and tobaccos and all this other stuff popping up everywhere.

It's our hands are tied by state statute.

So I think that's really important to understand.

We are frustrated to not just as aldermen or as members of the public safety and licensing committee, but as citizens of the city and citizens of Wisconsin.

Um, I know that Alder Kelly has had extensive conversations, communications.

I'm sure Alder White Alderman Widener has myself with state officials trying to figure out how we can tighten this because tobacco and these kind of products are so loosely regulated compared to alcohol.

So the proliferation that we're seeing that this burst out right now is because they know yes, we're looking at ordinances in ways that we can try to restrict this, but we are very limited by what state statute provides for us, and we cannot, we don't supersede it.

That's not the way that this works.

So I just wanted to make sure everyone was aware of that.

Context.

Thank you.

Alder Townsend.

I would like to speak in support of upholding the committee recommendation.

I've been in contact with him and his family, and they've been doing a great job over there.

The people I've talked to in the neighborhood are excited.

I'm excited to have them get active again and get back at it.

Um they just like uh Alder Widener said he's not planning to be some big vape shop.

Um yeah, I just wanted to speak in support of him because he's been great so far in all my communications with him and working with them has been easy, so I don't see why that would change in the future.

Alder Harman, did you want to speak for a second time?

Yes, thank you, Mayor.

I appreciate it.

Um I I want to make this clear again.

My um request to defer was not a request to deny.

I said that a few times.

It was not to deny, it was to defer until some additional information came and to see if some ordinances would come about and be approved because that does happen, and there's approval of applications now, they would be grandfathered in under old recommendations and loose regulations that are in place.

And because I didn't want there to be issues with equity between grandfathered in and non-grandfathered in and things like that.

I am just looking ahead to see if this council, members of this council, because I knew that there are some members that are looking into some of those things that can kind of regulate some of this, um, so that there could be some type of balance.

It wasn't not for anyone to break a law, not to need to have the attorney discuss it.

It was really just to look to be forward thinking and be proactive in the role that I play as alderman.

Thank you.

Seeing no further discussion on the item when the clerk calls your name.

This is for item 0045-26.

The clerk calls your name, please vote as you wish.

Alder Harman, Alder Pabone, Alder Frazier, Alder Townsend, Alder Davis, Alder Mack, Alder Jorgensen, Alderman Widener, Alder Horton, Alder Escada, Alder Allen, Alder Land, Alder Prez, Alder Kelly, 13 ayes, one no.

That motion carries, and then again, without objection, we will place the remainder of these items on the consent agenda and now move on to I believe the transit report.

And without objection, these items will be placed on the I'd like to at least uh have a question after me whether yep, you should be separate Alder Mac.

Let me turn your microphone on.

So please state your question.

I see that item 0079-26 is requesting permission to purchase two gillig 35-foot fixed route transit buses.

Are these electric vehicles or are these going to be conventional?

I will refer your question to the director of the transit department.

Uh thank you for the question, Alder Mack.

These are conventional diesel buses.

Okay, and then um the first item is just permission to apply for funding.

It has an the purchase of buses all come separately.

Correct.

All right, thank you.

Then I don't need to objection, both of these items will be placed on the consent agenda, and we will move to the office of the mayor report.

Uh Alder Horton typically gives this, but Alder Land was going to ask for separate consent consideration of the first item.

Alder Land, would you please read that item?

Item 0094-26 communications sponsored by Mayor Mason, appointing Matthew Kepnick as director of parks, recreation, and cultural services.

Move to approve.

Any discussion?

Um Alder Land, would you like to speak to your motion?

Yes, I would.

Um I was very happy when I saw this appointment.

I've known Matthew Matthew Kepnick for as long as I've been an Alder.

That's well, over 10 years, not just serving as an Alder, but on uh serving on the park and rec board, and I found him to be very knowledgeable about every subject.

He's very responsive any anytime you need him, he's right there.

He's always respectful, and I think these are great qualities that he will bring with him as a new director of park recreation and cultural services.

And I'd like to congratulate him, and I hope everybody goes along with this.

Thank you, Alderland.

Alder Wynder.

Thank you.

It is a big deal for this council to approve an appointment for a department head, which is what uh uh soon to be director Kepnick will become.

Um, for those on the council that may not have met him or the public that may have not met him, I would like to him to come up to the podium and just introduce himself.

Alder Weidner will we'll hold off on that until right after the vote, and the intention was to let him say a few words.

Okay, but you can approach Matt.

I'm I'm assuming we'll we'll be okay here shortly.

But was there any other comments you wanted to add?

There is another comment.

I remember when uh uh Matt Kepton goes hired as our city forester, and he brought so many great ideas and did such a great great job as our city forester.

Part of me is sad to see him leave as city forester, but I know that he I'm sure has trained many people to take up where he'll leave off, and I know if he does have as good a job as our director of park recreation cultural services as he has as city forester.

I think the city is going to be very, very well served as our new uh director.

Thank you, Alder Weiner.

Alder Pabone.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Just want to echo the sentiments of Alderman Land and Alderman Weidener.

Uh Matt and I have had uh extensive communication, especially over the summer months with the trees and and whatnot.

He's been always very responsive, very thorough.

Um, and I think this is a great addition and a great step.

So um, if the council's will be it, uh early congratulations.

All right.

Um I don't want to get ahead of ourselves.

Um, we have no one left in the queue, so when the clerk calls your name, please vote on item 0094-26.

This is the appointment of Matt Kepnick to be the next director of parks, recreation, and cultural services.

Uh, when the clerk calls your name on this item, please vote as you wish.

Alder Harman.

Alder Pabone.

Aye, Alder Frazier, Alder Townsend, Alder Davis, Alder Mack, Alder Jorgensen, Alderman Widenner, Alder Horton, Alder Escada, Alder Allen, Alder Land, Alder Prez, Alder Kelly, 14 ayes, zero no's.

Motion passes unanimously.

I'm supposed to gavel us down when we do that, but I think it's appropriate not to make an exception there.

Let's ask Mr.

Kepnick just to say a few words.

Thank you very much, everyone.

I do want to thank the mayor and thank the members of the common council for this opportunity.

Uh thank you for your confidence in me.

I'm very honored to step into this role.

Uh, excited to get to work starting first thing tomorrow morning.

Uh I'd like to say that our department has a very strong foundation.

It starts with our staff.

Uh so my goal is going to be to this first year to support support those staff uh while also ensuring that our parks, our programs, our trees, our natural resources, our facilities are all safe, welcoming, maintained, and uh hopefully uh you know moving forward on a positive manner.

So I look forward to working collaboratively with everyone, and I will look forward to continuing to serve our community.

Thank you.

Congratulations, Director Kepnick.

Thank you.

Alder Horton, have you received requests for separate consideration on the other items on the consent agenda?

Uh yes, sir, uh for the following two items.

Okay, please use the items 00 uh 95-26 communication sponsored by Mayor Mason submitting the following appointments, Chairman McCarthy to the due process board for a term expiring April 30th of 2027.

Move to approval.

So motion and a second to approve this item.

Discussion, uh Alder Wynner.

Thank you.

Uh I know former Alderman uh McCarthy is not here, but I would like to speak to this appointment.

Um, I think this is an excellent choice for the due process board.

Uh former Alderman McCarthy had served for many years.

I think uh as the chairman of the public safety and licensing, he understands the importance of what the mission is of the due process board.

I think he'll be a fine, fine appointment to that uh board.

Uh a little bit disappointed that he was not reappointed to the water wastewater commission because I know he spent many years educating himself on water issues.

Um, but I am happy to see him back and serving on the due process board.

Any further discussion on this item?

Alder Horton.

Did you want to okay?

Seeing none when the clerk calls your name, please vote as you wish.

Alder Harman, yes, Alder Pabone, aye, Alder Frazier, Alder Townsend, Alder Davis, Alder Mack, Alder Jorgensen, Alderman Weidner, aye, Alder Horton, Alder Escada, Alder Allen, Alder Land, Alder Perez, Alder Kelly, 14 ayes, zero no's.

Motion passes unanimously.

Uh Alder Horton, would you please read the next item?

Next item 0101-26 communication sponsored by Mayor Mason requesting to apply for the Bloomberg Harvard Fellowship program, fiscal note, no city match.

Move to approve.

Second.

There's a motion and a second to approve the item.

Alder Weiner, did you want to discuss the item?

I did.

Please proceed.

So I I'm not sure who to ask.

Um, this item really should go to a standing committee for a more thorough review.

Um, I don't know if there's some time constraint why this has not gone to committee and why we're giving approval.

Uh at this point, there is no attachment here, so we really don't know anything about this grant.

Um, and I know we said that there's no city match, but we still should know what kind of grant it is we're playing for it, and yeah, the timing's the reason for the direct referral.

I'll ask the clerk to speak to the item.

Thank you.

Sure.

So this became available at the end of last week, and it is due by the 9th, which is the timeliness of it, why it hasn't passed through a standing committee.

Okay.

Is there any information about that grant that can be provided to the council members?

I wish I had more.

I do not currently have a draft contract or anything else to even apply with it for.

Um, once that's available, I'd be happy to share it with the whole council via email.

So who will be applying?

What department is that coming from?

I believe it would be under the city administrator or the department of customer service.

It just depends on where they fit in job duty-wise.

I don't think that's been finalized yet either.

Can you give us a broad idea of what the Harvard Fellowship program is?

Sure.

So we did have someone from the Harvard Bloomberg program, and it was a Harvard student who did move to the city of Racine for a couple weeks.

Um they did provide assistance with creating dashboards and doing data tracking.

It is a service that's provided, but it's not a monetary value.

They're actually donating someone's time to be stationed here and get real life uh experience within a municipal government to be able to assist in their studies at Harvard.

Okay, thank you.

Any further discussion?

Seeing none when the clerk calls your name, please vote as you wish.

Alder Harman.

Yes.

Aye.

Alder Frazier.

Alder Townsend.

Aye.

Alder Davis.

Alder Mack.

Alder Jorgensen.

Aye.

Alderman Weidner.

Aye.

Alder Horton.

Aye.

Alder Escada.

Alder Allen.

Alder Land.

Alder Perez.

Aye.

Alder Kelly.

14 ayes, zero no's.

Motion carries.

We now move on to the consent agenda.

Alder Horton, would you like to make a motion to approve the consent agenda?

There's a motion to approve the consent agenda.

Seconded by Alder Fraser.

All those in favor of the consent agenda, please say aye.

Aye.

Opposed.

That motion carries.

We now move on to announcements.

Announcements are limited to recognition of city residents and employees, memorials, and non-political community events.

Discussion of matters related to governmental business is prohibited.

Announcements, please.

Let's start with Alder Townsend.

Yeah, I just wanted to give a big shout out to all of our first responders who dealt with the house fire this morning.

But they did what they do best.

I show up and got it done and helped some people in the process.

So just want to give them a shout out.

Alder Pavone.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

I just want to echo Alder Townsend's uh sentiments there, and then also a huge shout out to St.

Luke's hospitality area during that the really cold weather that we had to provide that emergency shelter.

It was great to see the community come together.

Um and also want to wish a belated happy birthday to my sister in law Lindsay and my mother in law Leanne.

Alder Kelly.

Thank you.

Um just wanted to uh say thank you to everybody for their um support, um text messages, phone calls, emails.

Um it's very much appreciated.

So I appreciate that support.

This has been a long journey, and we have unfortunately a little bit more to go.

Um secondly, I just wanted to um we had a friend, um Tim Zarzeki that passed away.

He was the former uh Mount Pleasant uh police chief, so I just wanted to um say my condolences to his uh friends, former co-workers, and family members.

Thank you.

Alder Fraser.

Should have been ready.

I wasn't, sorry.

Um wanted to echo uh Alder Kelly's same sentiments for it.

Uh former chief that passed away.

Um that is always very sad.

Secondly, um I said it last time we were here, and I'm gonna say it again.

Uh at the end of the month, I think February 20th, I will have a town hall for people uh preferably in the first district.

But if anyone in the city wants to come and eat some good food and complain to me about the city, I am uh more than happy to hear your constructive criticism.

Any other announcements?

Just one here, just as a reminder, tomorrow uh February 4th is transit equity day.

This is the day that Rosa Parks did not give up her seat on the bus back in 1955.

Uh so look for some celebration there as we commemorate that every year.

I do want to uh adjourn in honor of that commemoration here today.

Seeing no further discussion at this time, I would entertain a motion to adjourn.

The motion and a second to adjourn.

All those in favor, please say aye.

Opposed that motion carries.

We are adjourned.